Yellow Shouldered Slug Moth Caterpillar parasitized by Braconid

Green Round Bug Location: knob noster missouri December 21, 2010 3:43 pm This bug was found on a oak leaf in Knob Noster MO in Aug. It had parasitic wasp eggs laid on its back. I think it may be a species of the tomato hornworm. The color is similar but it’s shaped different. It’s almost oval but, flat on the bottom. One end of it had a little bit of a caterpillar body that would come in and out. It was stuck to the leaf. when I got it off and looked at the under belly it had many legs. almost centipede like. Signature: I’m just interested in the bug. Whatever is easier

Slug Moth Caterpillar parasitized by Braconid

Your caterpillar is most likely a Yellow Shouldered Slug Moth Caterpillar, Lithacodes fasciola, and we agree that the parasites are Braconids. We found a photo on BugGuide of a similar parasite/host relationship.

Yellow-shouldered Slug Moth caterpillars are often parasitized with these brachnoids in north Florida. We see several of them with these parasitoids every year. If you’d like more photos of these, we would be glad to share them for your site.

By all means, we would love your photos. Please use Parasitized Slug Caterpillars, or something equally descriptive, in the subject line when you send the images. Also, please use our question form and include any relevant information. Thank you for your offer.